Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, as well as all the other latest news with Wrestling Observer radio. Any questions for the show can be sent to
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We're looking for live reports from Raw tonight in Lafayette, LA, with dark matches, Superstars matches, estimated attendance and anything else not evident from the live show. The only thing announced is Michael Cole will be interviewing Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns.

We're also looking for reports on yesterday's Wrestlecade show in Winston-Salem, NC.

Smackdown, Main Event and Saturday Morning Slam will be taped tomorrow in Bossier City, LA. John Cena vs. Damien Sandow will be the main event on this coming week's Main Event show.

On Fuel tonight, Ultimate Fighter's last two episodes run from 6-8 p.m. and they are replaying the China show with Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le from 8-11 p.m. and UFC 137 at midnight.

READ THE LATEST OBSERVER: WHERE ARE WWE & UFC HEADED?

Coverage of where WWE and UFC are going after the big weekend shows are the headline stories in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We look at WWE plans, both announced and in the planning stages, following up Survivor Series. We look at the background of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, where they came from and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

We look at the Survivor Series booking, who were the standouts, why booking of one performer has changed greatly, the card for the TLC PPV, plus a rundown of the show with poll results and star ratings.

We also look at UFC in 2013, with a look at every division, including the women. We look at the top contenders, which divisions have depth, which are lacking, as well as a look at the Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva proposed fight as well as Silva vs. Jon Jones, and how that affects both weight divisions. We look at the questions regarding championship fights vs. big money fights.

We look at the contenders who have a shot at being stars, and those who deserve shots but maybe don't have that, as well as who can make themselves stars coming up or bring their careers back. We look at the weak divisions, as well as the questions regarding women being put in PPV main events. We also look at the status of Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg and why most feel Cyborg will inevitably fight her. We also look at the idea of Rousey as a coach on Ultimate Fighter.

We also look at the return of St-Pierre, questions answered and others not by his performance. We look at the Patrick Cote vs Alessio Sakara controversy, as well as one of the most disagreed with decisions in a long time. We also look at the business results of UFC 154, including not selling out in Montreal and why, the value of prim time, and thoughts on PPV and closed circuit numbers.

We also have match-by-match rundowns from the show.

We also update the MMA television landscape for 2013 when it comes to the games being played by FX and Spike, why nobody will confirm dates for January, a well as what is and isn't booked already.

We also look at a major project on the books for WWE next year. Steve Austin talks about Austin vs. Hogan and who he thinks should be in he Half of Fame. Edge talks why women in WWE leave so often. We also look at why Miz turned face, who is booking house shows nowadays, who is able to get away with more, the story behind the Sammartino Hall of Fame reference, Linda McMahon gets more pub after her campaign and another match planned for Mania. We also look at new names for WWE trained wrestlers and who they are, as well as more on WWE scouting, details of the last NXT tapings, and who people are highest on in developmental. We also look at the developmental cuts and delayed viewership of Raw.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

You can also subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

We also have a look at the ratings of all the major shows and complete details on how every segment of Raw and Impact this past week did. We look at what segments gained and lost viewers

We also have results from all the major league arena events over the past week as well as a look at all the major television shows.

Also in this week's issue:

--Injury to the new Mistico

--New world title contender in CMLL

--Performer celebrates 55 years in the business

--Main event announced for AAA's Guerrera de Titanes

--Wrestler talks why he left promotion

--A look at the recent AAA TV tapings

--Big group vs. group main event in Japan

--Hall of Famer to return to Japan in December

--All Japan's big show for December

--Notes on Japanese wrestling's ability to draw outside the country

--A look at all the tag team tournaments going on

--Pretty actresses doing pro wrestling show in December

--Name wrestler opening restaurant this week

--A look at the Global League tournament

--Hall of Famer has to close his gym

--New Japan has two tournaments going on this week

--Notes on two newcomers to New Japan

--Hall of Famer gets award from international government

--Chinese giant set to debut

--80s legends battle in main event

--Notes on the death of Dwain McCullough, also known as the original Awesome Kong

--More on the death of Mike Graham

--Notes on the new TV show that Chris Jericho is hosting

--Where the idea of the show cam from

--Jericho's early 2013 schedule and availability

--Notes on the Extreme Rising show

--The injury to Matt Hardy

--The concept of the promotion and why even with drawing good crowds it's difficult

--Notes on the funeral of Brad Armstrong

--Longest matches of the last 50 years in New York

--Thoughts on NWA Hall of Fame class

--Notes on the legacy of Sputnik Monroe

--Notes on the 2013 Cauliflower Alley Club award and the club going forward

--Notes on the early days of Montreal wrestling

--Update on Jake Roberts training for a comeback match

--Funny Mil Mascaras story

--Where the Gorgeous George gimmick really came from

--A life in prison sentence given to a conspirator in a brutal murder of a Canadian pro wrestler

--More on Hulk Hogan's court battle over the sex tape and why the judge made the ruling he did

--TNA star returns after health scare

--Notes on future TNA TV schedule between now and the end of February

--Notes on TV tapings in the U.K.

--Notes on changing announcers jobs

--Why the different injury angles have been done

--Update on plans for Sting

--Who Kurt Angle thinks TNA has dropped the ball on

--Update on King Mo and what match he watches all the time

--Notes on the TNA weekend house show tour

--Update on the next UFC lineup for Seattle

--Notes on Shane Carwin's injury and the curse of being a coach on Ultimate Fighter

--Notes on turning down short notice fights

--Legal issues settled between two warring parties

--A look at a number of new fights

--Fighter announces retirement

--More UFC injuries

--Notes on the final Bellator show on MTV 2

--First eight matches announced for New Year's Eve in Japan

--A Christmas Eve show in Japan featuring 90s star vs. 00s star

--One of the most decorated heavyweight wrestlers to come to MMA debuts

--A look at what will be the biggest rivalry in college wrestling this year

--Olympic gold medalist turns down MMA offers

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

TODAY'S NEWS, NOTES & LINKS

--Vince McMahon, The Miz, R-Truth, Layla and Eve Torres all won't be at TV tonight as they are going on tour visiting soldiers and are at military bases in Bahrain today. That will lead to a less stressful show and probably less rewrites of TV.

--On tonight's RAW, they'll push C.M. Punk passing the 1988-89 Randy Savage WWF title run, putting him in 7th place of all-time. He'll be in sixth in nine days, which is where he'll be going into his match with Rock at Royal Rumble...provided it goes down like that.

--Punk on was AMC's Talking Dead, the post-show of The Walking Dead. When he played the Walking Dead game, he did a higher score than any guest to date.

--WWE tapes Tribute to the Troops at the Scope Arena in Norfolk on 12/9. All sailors and their families get free tickets. Kid Rock, Flo Rida and the Muppets will be there. Tickets are expected to be available through Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation offices and be distributed in some commands starting at around 12/1. Most of the WWE crew will come to Norfolk on 12/6 to tape events and do things like anti-bullying rallies.

--UFC 170-pound champion Georges St-Pierre was on "Tour Le Monde en Parle," a Montreal talk show last night. He said he does want to fight Anderson Silva, but he wants to take the fight when the time is right. He said there are contenders at 170 and he'd like to face them first before gaining weight before facing Silva. The issue is with Silva, at his age, time may be running out. Everyone is just posturing at this point for the best deal possible.

--Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced today that they are amending their strict rules regarding title shots. If a rematch is called for after a title fight, they will make it, as opposed to forcing the loser to go through the tournament. Basically that means if Eddie Alvarez signs, the Alvarez vs. Chandler fight should take place.

--Tank Abbott was scheduled on Inside MMA today, but it's been moved to the 12/3 episode of the show.

--I did get to watch Showtime's countdown special to this coming Saturday night's Miguel Cotto vs. Austin Trout fight in Madison Square Garden. They did a tremendous job in getting Trout over. I had no plans at all to watch that fight and now I'm almost surely going to watch it.

--UFC 146 tickets (2/2 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and headlined by 135-pound champ Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar) go on sale to Fight Club members on Wednesday, newsletter readers on Thursday and to the public on Friday.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST MATCH IN MMA HISTORY?

Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II 35.1%

Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell II 21.2%

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie I 20.7%

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Cro Cop 8.1%

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II 5.9%

Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg 2.7%

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos 1.8%

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Mirko Cro Cop 1.8%

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Wanderlei Silva II 0.9%

Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields 0.9%

Georges St-Pierre vs. B.J. Penn II 0.5%

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum 0.5%

DID YOU LIKE SATURDAY MORNING SLAM?

Excellent 12.5%

Good 33.3%

Average 25.0%

Fair 4.2%

Poor 25.0%

71.1% of those responding didn't see the show

DID YOU LIKE SATURDAY'S ROH TV SHOW?

Excellent 26.5%

Good 35.3%

Average 14.7%

Fair 5.9%

Poor 17.6%

59.0% of those responding didn't see the show

WHAT WAS THE BEST TV SHOW OF THE PAST WEEK?

Raw 32.5%

Impact 27.4%

Main Event 13.7%

ROH 12.0%

Score Fighting Series 5.1%

Saturday Morning Slam 4.3%

Smackdown 3.4%

Inside MMA 1.7%

--Fuel TV will have a special airing Wednesday night at 11 p.m. called "Training Day: The Blackzillians" showing Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Alistair Overeem and Michael Johnson training for their upcoming fights with their coaches

--The Bad Boys of Wrestling Promotion that did the shows in Aruba a few months back (Jerry Lawler appeared on the tour right before his heart attack) were scheduled for a tour of Chile. Well, that tour has fallen through as apparently the local promoter has disappeared.

--Chael Sonnen and Molly Etim will be hosting the World MMA Awards ceremony put on by Fighters Only Magazine that takes place on 1/11 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

--There are two MMA events this coming weekend on AXS. BAMMA from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, will air live at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday. Alex Reid, a sort of celebrity as the former husband of model Katie Price, will face Sam Boo on the show. Main event is Xavier Foupa-Pokam vs. Jack Marshman. The Resurrection Fighting Alliance runs in the usual Friday night at 10 p.m. time slot from Kearny, NE, headlined by Jared Downing vs. Jordan Rinaldi for the featherweight title.

--AAW from Saturday night in Merrionette Park, IL: Ken Shamrock was scheduled to face Sami Callihan, but he no-showed without an explanation. It was announced that Shamrock didn't get on his flight the morning of the show, canceled his plane ticket, never told his agent or the promotion. Refunds were offered but very few takers: Lamar Titan & Tweek Phoenix b Darin Corbin & Marion Fontaine, Danny Daniels b Isais Velasquez, MsChif b Truth Martini, Dave & Jake Crist b Arik Cannon & Jimmy Jacobs to win the tag titles, Silas Young won four-way over ACH, B.J. Whitmer and Kyle O'Reilly, Dan Lawrence b J. Miller, Sami Callihan won three-way over Shane Hollister and Sabu, Michael Elgin b Davey Richards to retain AAW title (thanks to Chris GST)

--Preston City Wrestling in the U.K. has announced a series of shows with outside guests. On 12/9, John Morrison, U-Gene, Chris Masters, Eddie Edwards and Michael Elgin are coming. On 1/18, The Young Bucks will appear. On 2/1 and 2/2, Akira Tozawa appears. On 4/26, Tommy Dreamer and Goldust appear. And on 5/31 and 6/1, Rick & Scott Steiner appear, will wrestle both nights and do meet and greets.

--On this day in history:

> 70 years ago today: Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Orville Brown in Kansas City to win the NWA version of the world heavyweight title

> 25 years ago today: One of the most important days in wrestling history with the first Survivor Series and the first Starrcade that was on PPV. The story behind this and why it was a turning point in the business is in the History of Thanksgiving story that was put up on the site on Thursday. Starrcade included Ric Flair beating Ron Garvin in a cage match to win the NWA world title and Dusty Rhodes beating Lex Luger to win the U.S. title. Also on that same day, Greg Gagne beat Curt Hennig to apparently win the AWA title, but since Verne interfered, the title was held up and given back to Hennig.

> 17 years ago today: Smoky Mountain Wrestling ran its final show in Pikeville, TN as part of its Thanksgiving Thunder tour (thanks to Brian Hoops)

--Watch part 1 of former WWE talent Shad Gaspard's documentary "Beast Mode: Life After Wrestling"

--Extreme Rising's last show of the year is 12/29 in Philadelphia at the National Guard Armory. There will be a Fan Fest from Noon to 3 p.m. Besides the title tournament semifinals (Rhino vs. Devon Storm, Stevie Richards vs. Luke Hawx), a cage match with The Gangstas vs. Blk Out, El Hijo de Rey Misterio vs. Bestia 666, Jerry Lynn vs. Homicide there will also be appearances of Matt Hardy, Sabu, Reby Sky, Papadon, The FBI, Facade, Jay Bradley, Joel Gertner, Robbie Mireno and more.

--Dragon Gate USA has a number of Cyber Monday specials that end at midnight tonight Eastern time.

--Progress Wrestling from yesterday in Tufnell Park, London before a sellout 300 fans James Davis & Robby Lynch b Jim & Lee Hunter, R.J. Singh b Paul Robinson, Noam Dar b Jimmy Havoc in a submission match, Mark Andrews b Will Ospreay (received a standing ovation after their match), Dave Mastiff won over Marty Scurll and Stixx, El Ligero b Nathan Cruz to win the Progress wrestling title with a guillotine in 26:51. Next show is 1/27 (thanks to Martin Bentley, Daniel Jones and Darren Rogers)

--WWE Raw will be running a July 2013 Australia tour with shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday at 9 a.m. (thanks to James Stanios)

--CWE from Friday night in Winnipeg: Original Thug Crew b Rex Roberts & J.S. McStrongArm, Marius b Ace Riviera, Cliff Corleone & Mike Mission b Kevy Chevy in a handicap match, Mentallo & Tyler Colton b Todd Myers & Jeff Tyler, Matt Fairlane b Bobby Collins, Robby Royce b Anderson Tyson Moore, Danny Duggan and Robby Royce tied in a Battle Royal when both had their feet touch the floor at the same time. The 4th anniversary show is in Winnipeg at Southeast Collegiate featuring Scott Steiner. They also have a free show in Winnipeg at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Northern Hotel.

--Dory Funk's BANG on 12/1 in the BANG Sound stage in Ocala, FL. Dory Funk Jr. and Wes Brisco appear on the show.

--Hernandez, Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Homicide appear for River City Wrestling on 12/8 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in San Antonio. They will be in a trios match against Michael Faith & Joey Spector & Michael Patrick, plus El Sicodelico Jr. vs. Skayde. Skayde is also doing a clinic on 1/8 from 1-4 p.m. for $25 and open to all independent wrestlers. Only active wrestlers are allowed. For more info, email
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